‘Is there anyone you don’t like?’

At the Gilda’s Club event Friday night a reader asked me if there was anyone (on OTE) I didn’t like — or who I wished would go away.

This was an interesting question and, of all the things I’ve been asked over the course of 10-plus years at the TU, an inquiry I’d yet to hear.

If she had asked me this same question a year or two ago I would’ve said “no, not really” yet thought “absolutely” while creating a mental laundry list of names.

A lot has happened over the past couple of years, though, to make me stronger — and make me appreciate the negativity, rather than wish it away.

I’ve also gotten a much deeper understanding of blogging and realize a dose of drama in any community (hello, Kristin Cavallari) rarely hurts. That drama just can’t rule the roost.

When IKTIM stopped commenting, I shot him an e-mail asking if everything was OK in his world. And one of the people I disagree with often, happens to be on my “Top 5 Favorite Commenters” list thanks to her insight and humor.

Even Marlon and his antics can be of value — since many of you get to exercise your eyeball-rolling muscles after reading the ridiculousness he spews.

113 Responses

LOL! thats what I mean kristi,”how I smell” that the type of amusement you offer!as for bashing you, hardly. and thats something you need to address! people expressing themselves in a way you dont agree with isnt bashing you, its a point of view! and you cant ban or censor (or at least you shouldnt)people for having one. as for your personal attacks , kristi How do you know what Ive had or havent had? as for my substance I think its been very clear, as is my compassion and my sense of reality, I think what youre problem with me is that I dont kiss the ring or other things as other people have done on this blog to excess! and I never will! But I have never said I dislike OTE or the people on it. its a blog no more no less> and by the way, what R U getting em for my B-day?LOL!

I think every single person on here has something to contribute, and each personality seems to fulfill a “role” – even if it’s by accident. But, it’s what makes the whole OTE community so unique and quite frankly, fantastic!

I think it’s amazing how people can come here and get out of it exactly what they’re comfortable with – some people come to read, some come to read and partake in the conversations – and some of us took it a step further and met in person, further solidifying that the opinions and experiences we share here are as real as the personalities behind them. I don’t know if I would’ve ever crossed paths with, much less had the opportunity to get to know the people I’ve met in person and have grown to adore, if it weren’t for OTE. We’re all so different in our own ways, but still so alike.

I am with Amanda on this one. Leigh, Amanda, Bert-Bert and Goose make me laugh harder than any single person in my personal life and I truly look forward to interacting with OTErs each day. Most people can not say that they get paid to do what they absolutely adore 99 percent of the time. I can, though, and that is massively because of all of you.

How do I know? I only really liked (a lot) my job years ago — before the heavy reader interaction — now I actually understand why people regularly e-mail, call or write us letters saying “I want to be the next Kristi.”

Writing for print, blogging, WTEN, FLY92 and the constant back-and-forth via social media are all really, really fantastic. the fact that they have essentially all come together to give me a dream position is something that makes me more fortunate than the more than 50 percent of Americans who are unsatisfied with their current employment situation.

Can’t y’all just get along. I am not on here often and I am not taking sides, but it does not seem appropriate to note how many times a person clicked on to read the comments particularly from work. Just my thoughts. And on subject, there are not too many people I dislike on a personal level other than people who lie a lot. However, there are a lot of public figures, politicians, lawyers, and other corruptos who oppress others that I dislike a lot.

Marlon, you really need to chill out. Let the meet-up issue go & just don’t participate or comment on them if you hate them that much. Or is it Goose that you dislike that much? Jealousy is an evil monster – bless & release!!! You’ll be a better human for it!!

Myra – I hate to say it but you are a troll!! I’ve seen your work on other blogs & been a victim of your vile & irrational comments!! You’ve accused me of being multiple people & said some hateful things to me!! You don’t even know me nor will you ever!!! I have tried to avoid you like the plague – you are a pot-stirrer & obviously take pride in that and that is just sad… just my thoughts!

Marlon, you have no compassion for anyone. I know this from exchanging personal messages with you on Facebook. You even surprised me with how cold you truly are.

If OTE is so meaningless to you, prove it to all of us by staying away for a week. I’m betting that you are so starved for attention and so narcissistic that you won’t be able to stay away for an hour, let alone one week.

Tough crowd for Marlon. Most days I enjoy reading his delusional drivel. Sadly, I think he actually believes the words he’s typing.

I’ve been hanging around OTE less than a year and never have I felt more welcomed in an online community. Everyone is generally accepting of your thoughts and opinions… and then there’s Marlon. Marlon who thinks he’s the Obi-Wan of OTE. Try as he may, it seems the only person Marlon can truly alienate is himself.

First Kristi, let me say that I join you in that level of job satisfaction. Secondly, Amanda had the classic saying in a post on here quite a while back that has stuck with me ever since. And “I love us” is something I will never forget. Bless your heart Amanda!

OK, 11 o’clock at night and I’ve read all the above posts. I have to pipe in not because I am that moved by anything, but because I am not an avid reader or poster, but being an “outsider” I’d like to say a few things.

1) Everyone has something valuable to say; even an occasional “LOL” is kinda cute sometimes, but I prefer “d’oh”.

2) Kristi works her tail off and should she ever wear a pedometer, I’ll bet she logs more miles than all of us combined.

3) The meetups are great (ok, only been to one) and everyone seems really nice. Hope to see you all at the Standard and Pearl St. Pub sometime soon.

4) I know from personal experience that once you hit “submit comment” you can’t take it back, so be REAL SURE that’s what you want to say and how you want to say it; ’cause you gotta dig down deep to apologize, and it is a mighty humbling experience – which for some is not a bad thing (like me).

5)Finally, don’t be afraid to grow and change with online relationships; they aren’t as scary as they sound, and we’re all just people after all.

@75 Shimmy… I do the same thing. Random caps, and the yUKMA signature and I just scan over it. Even if I actually read the comment, I can’t follow it!

Marlon… dear. In regards to this “meetup nonsense”, I know I, personally, usually don’t engage in fun, witty, semi-intelligent conversation with hovering, cologne stinking red helicopters. Usually I’ll talk with anyone who can look ya in the eye, sit down with “mere mortals,” and keep my attention with friendly conversation. I thought that was common sense… but write that down for next time, k?

I guess I understand where Kate is coming from but I have to agree with Leigh. I don’t think you can ever have too many friends. Sure, each friendship has varying degrees of closeness but you can’t make it sound like it’s a chore or an obligation in maintaining those relationships. I don’t regret for a second the OTE meet-ups I’ve attended and the new friends I have made. And I honestly feel that if I didn’t comment here or see these people for five years, and then suddenly reemerged, they would welcome me back with open arms. I know I would with them.

As to Marlon, that’s a tough one. Outside of the cologne overdosing, I really think there might be some bipolar issues or multiple personality disorder. I’ve met him twice and he’s not the same boastful, braggart that he is behind a keyboard. Maybe it’s just some schtick of his? The only thing he ever says on OTE that pisses me off is his referring to himself as a God and looking down his nose at us “mere mortals”. Maybe he’s just a bit dislexic as well and he really means to say he is a doG. Yeah, that’s it…bow-wow little ‘ol rhed doG.

Oh my…..I have not had the ummmm pleasure of meeting Mr. Anderson in person but Im not sure I really need to add that to my TO DO list.
However, Marlon dont feel bad, I too have had my comments “non-approved” by KG, mostly for F bombs. The fact remains that you tend to talk in crazy crop circles about strange people/places/things and you constantly talk $#%# to almost everyone in here. WHY? Are you that unhappy and jealous or are you just listening to the little red suited men in your head? I really want to know. Can you please not just fire back a random capitial letter post and answer honestly?

Hey Goose why don’t you have an OTE meetup at one of those Chinese buffets in town it will beat the pants off sushi any day and Marlon can point out every waitress that shot him down numerous times. Just a thought.

Let me clear up this statement, ‘I’m always a little suspicious of the regular commenters who never come to meetups though, i feel like they use OTE as their mask and arent really who they say they are or claim to be, which is sad.’ – I’m not saying that if you don’t come to a meetup, you’re creepy or sad. What I am saying is that if you talk negatively about people, make snarky/rude/judgemental comments about others, you should at least be man/woman enough to, when the opportunity arises, say it to their face.

The problem with that is, once you show up and realize that the people who DO get together and hang out are some of the friendliest, most down-to-earth, funny, honest and open-minded people you’ll ever get the chance to meet, you’ll feel like a f%#%&%g idiot and wind up lurking and lerching in a corner somewhere.

I’m not even sure why the term ‘meetup’ is still being used because now, it’s to the point where when we do hang out, it’s just a bunch of friends catching up…friendships that, as we all readily admit, would have NEVER been possible if not for OTE. What are the chances that Mick and Amanda would have met on the streets of Albany? What about Leigh and Dave meeting in Schenectady? What about Roz and I? I could go on and on. As adults who work, go to school, raise children, take care of sick family members, etc., there’s hardly a moment when you get to the chance to meet new people that you genuinely like and like hanging out with, OTE was the initial bind that tied us all together…UNTIL we met and realized that we have much more in common that we ever expected. Knock the fact that people meetup, if you like, but in the end, all of those who have come out have formed life-long friendships and are more open-minded than they ever expected and are better people for it, I know I am.

I don’t like people who feel it is acceptable to interrogate while providing a service. That could be any service provider. If you’re providing a service for me for 20-30 minutes, it doesn’t mean you can be nosy, and it doesn’t mean we are friends.

first let me say, dave as u know we have met and I hav no problem engaing in drinks or conversation, but I will say that I was fully prepared to deck you, if you came off as you have and do on this blog, but you didnt and we have had pleasant conversations as I have had with most of those ive met from this blog>PW If we meet Im sure it wwill be a good experience, i love to drink and laugh and its summer, im a very public person so Im sure more than likely you’ll have the chance to meet me. and I apologize to your mere mortals, indeed I sometime forget when dealing with you that you are just that
and that the affairs of immortals like myself are beyond you. I think that perhaps east greenbush dad(where has he been lately) can related U talk buffet I talk reception, You talk meetup, I talk Gala, its a whole nother level. its like that video game Monster hunter. I hunt monsters, slay dragons, conquer kingdoms and romance princesses. Thats what I do, its not bragging or boasting or Imagining, its what i do. So dont be discouraged or offended By what i say, just resign yourself to the fact I am on a higher level, and thats where i come to you and speak to you from!and By the way Goose is a poser!LOL!

I’m sure most of you are all very nice. But I have been on a few different blogs on TU and if you dare to have a different opinion you are immediately attacked and have your words twisted into other meanings. When it happens here I can shut my computer off and don’t have to put up with the nastiness. . It’s not something I have any desire to deal with in person. Plus between work, everyday chores, a teenage son and the occasional beer with my girlfriends, I don’t have any time for anything else.

goose thats lame the slipper aint the move, but off of lark street is. Perhaps say the pearl street pub or Dale millers(which gets my vote)or dicarlos!(just to see leigh steam!)ANY PLACE BUT LAME AZZ TIRED AZZ OVERRATED LARK STREET! and forget about the biergarten too! someplace with some clas would be nice I think. so again i vote for dale millers.

I think the next meet up, since it has the potential to be a little large, should be at somewhere nicer than a bar in my opinion. so i vote for again dale millers or the Pub, or how about franklins tower? step up your game son!

IF people are serious about meeting up, and doing it right(instead of like a goose promotion) then im interested and if we can get together between say thurs and say next weekend I will be happy to participate … I think it would be good for us to meet up and wish each other best for the holiday and the upcoming new year, but lets do it right Ok?

‘as for friend or being friendly, I allways am, but Not to the point of this “meetup nonsense” I think youve overdone it( misled down the primrose path by Loosey goosey!) but if thats what you want to follow got for it!’

kvp its sdad but true, but I will say that it doesnt happen with these folks. try it, Im sure you’ll like it. and goose I think the beatles say it best about you “he’s a real nowhere man, making all his nowhere plans for nobody!”

“dave as u know we have met and I hav no problem engaing in drinks or conversation, but I will say that I was fully prepared to deck you, if you came off as you have and do on this blog”

The feeling was mutual mArlon. But, I will continue to fire off the snarky comments about you as long as you maintain that “I’m better than you mere mortals” attitude. Seriously, if I wanted any more hot air than is already in Albany, I’d move back to the deserts of Phoenix.

It is true that it’s not so much here as when I made the mistake of disagreeing on the parent blog… I might as well have pushed my son off the roof and then set him on fire to hear the things people say… it was definitely not fun..

1) OH SNAP!
2) I appreciate the opportunity to put names to faces, it helps me to be judgmental in person. KIDDING!! I truly like all of the people I have met thus far.
3) @Other & @cc: I’m sorry that we moved outside. It was gorgeous, but I agree it was hotter than snot (don’t ask for a description, Lisa made that mistake yesterday). Hopefully we can get y’all at another one soon. :) We meet every two weeks, so drop a line on FB so we can look for you. :) :)
4) I too don’t dislike anyone, so to speak, but when an individual gives me a personal reason to dislike them (eg: directing nastiness my way for no reason), then they are on my “ignore” radar, and I don’t usually choose to interact with them.
5) I hope I can make it to the next meet-up. Sushi was awesome! Next time they get to decorate my veggie rolls!! LOL!

I know I’ve been MIA for a while now, but holy crap. And I thought I was the only one who REALLY disliked Marlon.

As for meet-ups….I’ll admit to not attending any of them outside of the lunch ones down here at the plaza. I don’t have the time, energy, or the money to be going out with all of you at the others. Not saying it wouldn’t be worth it, as I’m sure you all are great people that I would love to get to know, but I just don’t have much time for socializing. And I know, I’m not the only one with kids either. What extra time I do have, I either spend it with my family or engrossed in a book once the kids are asleep…I know, talk about boring, but I love to read so….whatever.